Cloudchaser: Mt. Bachelor’s New Lift

If you’ve only been visiting Mt. Bachelor over the last few years, then you’ve never seen a new chairlift installed at the Cascade Range’s largest ski resort. That is about to change with the introduction of Cloudchaser, Mt. Bachelor’s new lift and the first to be installed since 2006 when Pine Marten Express was replaced. The installation of the new lift represents a $6 million capital investment

The name Cloudchaser, chosen by director of mountain operations Tom Lomax, is a reference to the unique weather pattern experienced by the mountain. When clouds approach Mt. Bachelor from the west, they tend to dissipate and vanish completely while passing by the summit and pushing east of the mountain.

The high-speed, detachable quad lift has a horizontal length of 6,576 feet and a vertical rise of 1,448 feet. The lift has 21 towers and 141 chairs, with an uphill capacity of 2,400 people per hour.

Once completed, which is expected to be in December 2016 if the weather cooperates, Cloudchaser will add an additional 635 acres of skiable area to Mt. Bachelor, bringing the resort to a total of 4,318 skiable acres. That will rank Mt. Bachelor as the fifth-largest ski area in the United States. Cloudchaser will also add 6.2 miles and 32 acres worth of groomed runs to what is currently available at the resort. The lift also provides greater protection from the elements for the resort’s guests.

We hope you’re looking forward to Cloudchaser as much as we are and that you’ll give it a try when you visit us after it is complete. If things go as planned, it’ll be ready for folks to give it a go in time for the 2016 holiday season. Keep checking our website and social media accounts for updates on Clouchaser’s status and to be among the first to find out when it has been completed and an opening date announced.